Apparatus for mounting inserts in and drilling battery-jar vent caps



March 6, 1928.

B. A. EVANS ET AL APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING INSERTS IN AND DRILLING BATTERY JAR VENT CAPS Y2. 1927 hts-Sheet l J fa@ Wiz@ fm, Lm

March 6, 1928.

B. A. EVANS ET AL Filed July 7. 1927 NIN ein'

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B. A. EVANS ET AL APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING TNSERTS IN AND DRILLING BATTERY JAR VENT CAPS led July 7. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 6, 1928.

B. A. EVANS ET AL APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING INSERTS IN AND DRILLING BATTERY JAR VENT CAPS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 p3A/f.

Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

)UNITED STATES y y -1,61,417 PATENT oFFier..

BENJAMIN A. EVANS AND WILLIAM H. SLA'BAUGH, or oU'YAHoGA FALLS, oHIo, As-

sIGNoRs To THE B. F. GooDR-ICH COMPANY, or

rrIoN or NEW YORK.

NEW Yonx, N. Y., A CORPORA- APPARTUSVFOR MOUNTING INSERTS IN AND DRILLINGBATTERY-JAR VENT CAPS.

Appncatibn sied July 7,

This invention vrelates to the manufacture of vent caps, usually in the forni of molded hollow Ascren7 plugs, Which are employed in battery covers as vented closures for the filling holes, each plug being provided With a small vent aperture in its head for venting the battery to prevent super-atmospheric or subatmospherie pressure therein and With a `vbaille plate set in an annular groove molded in the inner tace of the plug', the battle being adapted to constitute a partial closure member for a splash chamber Within the plug, to prevent the electrolyte from' splashing out through the vent aperture. y

Our cb-hiet objects are to provide improved procedure and Vapparatus for forming the baille plates and mounting them in the plugs; to provide improved procedure and apparatus for drilling the vent apertures in the plugs; to provide for simultaneously drilling the vent apertures and forming and mounting the battle plates in the same machine; to provide a largely automatic machine for continuous operation upon a succession et the plugs or vent caps; to provide for regularity of operation and uniformity ot' product; and to provide further, more detailed advantages Which will be manifest.

f the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a frontelevation `of a machine embodying and adapted to carry out our in vention in its preferred form.`

Fig. 2 is a. vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the machine from the left of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the battery plug and a baille plate adapted to be mounted therein. d

Fig. 6 is an elevation from the right of Fig. 1.

ig. 7 is a vertical section on line 7-7 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 8l is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 9 is a plan view. of parts of the machine including a Work-carrying turret and means for feeding a strip of the bailleplate material.

Fig. 10 is a section on line 10-1O of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a section on line 11-11 of Fig. 8. c

Referring to the drawings, the machine a belt 14 With a main-drive pulley 15 loosely jouriialed upon a iiiain-drive and crank shaft 16, a wedged-pin clutch k17 being inteiposed between' the drive pulley 15 and the shaft and having its actuating arm 18 connected by a pull rod 19 With astarting treadle 20 adapted to be latched clown in cliitcli-eiigagiiig position by a cam latch member 21 secured to the treadle and adapt ed to engage'in a slot 22 formed in a bracket 23 projectingl from a part of the machine iframe.

A plate 241 carrying certain parts oli' the mechanism is secured upon the frame by bolts 25, 25 having their heads mounted in an uiider-cutvslot formed in tlieframe and the plate 21 is formed Witlifa vertical bearing 26 for a. turret plate 27 formed iii its outer margin with a circumferential series of equally spacedapertures or sockets 28, 28 adapted to 'seat respective battery plugs or vent caps 29, 29, as is shown clearly in Fig. 7.

The turret plate 27 is adapted to be periodically indexed by a spring-pressed parvl faoY 30 mounted upon the outer end of an arm 31 which is j-o'uinaled upon the `stem of the turret plate 27 between the turret plate and the supportingplate 211, the parvl 30 being adapted to vengage in ratchet notches 32, 32 formed inthe margin of the turret plate and the arm 31 having its outer end connected by a link 33 with one arm of a bell crank lever 321 which is loosely ulcrumed upon a shaft 35-and has its other arm connected by a. pitman link 36 with a crank 37 secured upon one vend of the crank shaft 16.

For drilling in the respective vent caps 29 vent apertures such as are shown at 38, 3S (Fig. 7 as the vent caps in the turret are held in succession at the drilling position, a drill holder 39 has 4its stein mount-ed,

against rotation by a screw 44 having its` projecting inner end 'extending into a slot 45 formed in the adjacent Wall of the sleeve (Fig. 2). i

lSecured on the lower end of thestem of the drill holder 39 is a belt pulley 4G connected by a round belt et? with one of a pan` ot twin pulleys 48, at) which are loosely journaled upon a sha tt 5t), the pulley 49 being connected by a belt 51V wlth a belt pulley 52 secured upon the motor shatt. Pulleys lt and 45 ot' the belt 4:7 are positioned at about the same elevation, so that the drill holder 39 may be driven bv the belt 4T although the drill holder is raised and lowered in the guide member 42.

For raising and lowering the drill holder the slidable sleeve 4l in which it is journalcd has hinged to the lower end thereof f the outer end ot a lifting arm 53 which is secured upon they shaft 5t), and the said shat't has secured upon another part thereof a rocker arm 5t which is connected by a link 55 with one arm of a bell crank lever 56 loosely tulcrumed upon the shaft 35 and having upon its other arm a cam rolleiI 5T mounted in a cam groove formed 1n a cam disk .Btl secured upon the main-drive and crank shaft lt.

Mounted in the drill holder Si) in a well known manner is a drill 6l). the construction being such that the rotating drill will be raised to drill the aperture in each of the vent` caps as they are successively held in the drilling position.

For holding each vent cap 29 in its socket `in the turret plate 27 against the force of the drill coming up from below, a springbacked presser foot 61 adapted to bear yleld ingly upon the upper end of the vent cap 29 is mounted in a bracket 62 projecting from a slide 63 which is mounted in vertical guide ways on the machine trame and retained b v cap plates (it. 611-. the slide (l being connected with a crank portion formed in the shaft` lt b v a variable length pitman (i5 (Fig. 1), tbe slide (35i being so timed as to briner the presser toot (S1 to bear upon each vent cap Q9 shortly betore the vent eap is engaged by the drill (it).

For feeding" a strip (Sti ot hard rubber or semi-hard rubber stock pastl a stamping position at a different partot the tnrrets orbit from that oi' the drill (it). the machine is provided with a guide plate structure 6T formed with an luider-cut guide way for the strip 6G and loosely journaled in a recess GS formed in the structure G7 (Fig. 7). with its upper side approximatelj,v even with the floor of the guide wav. is a small roll 69, adapted to eoact. to grip the strip GG for the forward feed ing thereof. with a trunnioned drive roll journaled in a double bracket 7l which rises 'from the lguide plate structure G7, and one of the trunnions ot the roll 70 has secured thereon a gear 72 nieshed with a gear 7f3 which is secured upon a shaft 'it mounted in the double bracket 71 and havin;r secured on its other end the inner member 75 (Fig. l0) ot a ball clutch or which the outer member 76 is formed with gear teeth which are meshed with a vertical rack 77 mounted in a guide way formed in the bracket 7l. A pawl 76 (Figs. 7 and 9) is mounted upon the bracket, 7l and adapted to engage the gear Tlto prevent reverse movement ot' the strip feeding rolt 7U in the return movement of the ball clutch member To.

'l`he rack 77 is secured upon the lower cud ot' a bar 7) which is slidably mounted in the bracket 32 ot the slide (iii and in a stationary bracket St) (Figs. l and 4f) projecting from the machine trame. l`he said bar T5) is urged downward b v a compression spring til interposed between the bracket SO and a collar 82 secured upon the bar. Also secured upon the bar below the collar 8:2 is a collar Sii adapted to be engaged by the upper face of the bracket (52 to litt the rack in the latter part of the upward movement ot the slide (311 (see Fig. 1), the bar Til having secured upon the upper end thcrcot a collar 84 adapted to abut the upper 'tace oi the bracket 8() to stop the downward movement of the rack before the completion ot the downward movement of the slide (l, the lost motion between the bracket (32 and the collar S3 beingT such that each forward movement ot the strip tt will he delayed until the rising movement ol the slide (33 has cleared from the .strip a punch which is mounted upon and projects downwardl)v from the slide (33 and is adapted to punch from the strip (5G the successive batlte plates such as the plate Sti shown clearly in Fig.

For coaction with the punch 85 to punch out the baille plates S6. the duide plate structure (Si has set in an aperture therein a female die Si' (Fig. T). and mounted on the guide plate structure (ST is a hold-down or stripper plate 851 .formed with a afuidvx aperture S9 directly over the aperture ot the die ST.

The die 9T is formed with diainetricalliv opposite. inwardlyv projecting elements of which one is shown at in Fig. T and the punch S5 is formed with complemental slots ot which one is shown at til, the die and punch thus being adapted to form diametrically opposite notches 92, 92 (Fig. in the battle plate SG. in order that the latter may be sprung into an annular groove 93 molded in the inner tace ot the vent cap 2f) and in order to provide vent communication between the interior ot the battery and the splash chamber within the vent cap when the vent cap is mounted in the battery cover.

The parts are so constructed and arranged that when the turret plate 2T is stopped with one of the vent caps mounted therein at the drilling position. another ot the vent caps will be directl)v under the die Si". so that continued downward movement of the punch 85 will force the ballie plate 86 through the die and into the vent plug` the lower end tace ot the punch 85 beineY sphericallv rounded, as shown clearly in Fig. 7, so that llt) it will slightly Vdeform the "baie plate 86 for the passage of the latter throi'ight'he'die and into the vent cap, the baileplate then flattening out when it reaches the annular groove 93 in the vent cap, its margins thus being caused to enter and seat in the groove 93 so as to be retained therein as the punch 85 is lifted, the lo'ivermost position of the punch 85 being so controlled by adjustment of the length of the pitinan 65 (Fig. l), by means of a turn-buckle device 921. as to cause the punch to force the baffle plate into but not beyond the annular groove `93. f

For removing the successive vent .caps 29 from the turret plate 27 after the mounting of the baille plates 86 therein by the punch 85, a vertical plunger 95 (Figs. 1, 4 and 6) is slidably mounted in the horizontal frame member 43 and in the supporting plate 24 of the turret at a suitable position to lift one of the vent capsfrom' the turret plate each time that the latter is stopped for a d rilling and a baille-inserting operation, and the plunger 95 has pin-and-slot hinge connection with an arm 96 secured upon a rock shaft 97 which has secured upon another part thereof an arm 98 (Figs. 1 and 6)'of which the outer end has pin-and-slot connection with an arm 99 projecting from the hub of the bell crank lever 56, for raising and lowering the plunger 95 in proper timed relation to the vertical reciprocation of the slide 63 and the drill holder 39.

To receive each vent cap as it is lifted from the turret plate 27 by the plunger 95 an inclined chute 100 is positioned with its upper end over the turret plate 27 at the po` sition of the plunger 95, the upper end of the chute being formed asa hood open below to receive the vent cap and formed With an inclined wall 101 (Fig. 1) adapted to'croivd the veut cap off of the'head of the rising I'Jlungerk95. so that the vent cap Will -fall onto the inclined ioor of the chute adjacent the hood and pass by gravity thereon from the machine. Y

To prevent rotation of the turret plate '27 at such times as the machine `is stopped in such rotative position that the drill 60 and punch 85 are Withdrawn from the turret plate. a spring-backed plunger 102 (Figs. 8 and 11) is mounted in a socket member 103 secured to the machine frame and the plunger 102 is provided at its outer end with a roller 104 adapted to seat in one or another of the notchesY 32 formed in the margin of the plate.

A similar spring-backed plunger is mounted in the socket member 103 and provided at its outer end with a roller 105 adapted to seat in one of the notches 32 when the turret plate is stopped with vent caps in the drilling and punching positions to assure proper registry of the vent caps with the drilling and the punching devices.

In the operation of the machine, the drill G0 and the main-drive pulley 15 being continuously driven by the motor 11, the treadle 20 is depressed and the latch member 21 en-` gaged inthe slotk 22 of the bracket 23 `to hold the clutch 17 engaged and thus effect continuous driving of the shaft 16. vent caps 29 are mounted in the respective sockets in the turret plate 27 at the front part of the latters orbit, and the turret plate is periodically indexed through the 'action of the train of mechanism including link 3G, bell crank lever 34, link 33, and paWl arm 31, the turret plate stopping with one of the vent caps atthe drilling position and another at the punching position..

As the turret plate is so stopped,` the downward movement of the slide 63 brings the presser foot 61 into Contact with the vent cap at drilling position and immediately thereafter the rotating drill 60 is lifted,to drill the vent aperture 33 inthe cap, by the Successive train of mechanism including the bell crank lever 56, link 55, arm 54e, rock shaft 50, and arm 53, and then lowered clear of the vent cap and the turret plate While the rising movement ofthe slide 63 lifts the presser foot 61 elearof the Work.k

In the. downward movement of the-.slide i 63 the stem 79 of the rack 77 is stopped by Contact `of the collar 84 with the bracket 80 before the slide .63 has reached its lowermost position and in the latter part of the up- Ward movement of the slide 63 the rack 77 is lifted by engagement of the bracket 62 with the collar 83, which drives the strip feeding roll 70 through the train of mechanism including the ball clutch structure 7 5, `76 (Fig. 10), the shaft 74 and gears 73, 72, thus stepping forward the `strip 66 of baille plate material. n i

In the downward movement of the vslide 63 the punch 35 is forced through the die 87 f mechanism including the bell crank lever" V56, the arm 99'thereof, the arm y98, rock` shaft 97 and arm 96, dislodging one of the vent caps from the turret plate and discharging it from the machine through the chute 100. y

The drilling of the vent caps and mounting of the baffle plates therein is thus effected simultaneously and the finished work is discharged from the machine, the operation being rapid and almost entirely automatic, the operator being required only to mount the successive vent caps inthe turret plate.v f

Various modifications are possible Within the scope of our invention as deiined in the appended claims.

IVe claim:

l. Apparatus of the character described comprising means for propelling a succession of vent-caps past a drilling position and a baille-mounting position, means timed with the propelling means for drilling vent-apertures in the successive caps at the drilling position and means timed with the propelling means i'or mounting baiile members in the successive caps at the baille-mounting position.

2. Apparatus oi the character described comprising means for propelling a succession ot' vent-caps past a drilling position and a baille-mounting position. means timed with the propelling means for drilling vent-apertures in the successive caps at the drilling position and means timed with the propelling means for forming baille members and mounting them in the successive caps at the baiile-mounting position.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising means for feeding a strip ot baille-forming material, a through-apertured female die member and a punch operable therethrough for punching successive baille members from the strip7 and means for presenting successive vent-caps in position for the punch to force the successive baiiie members, through the female die member, into the successive vent caps.

4. Apparatus as deiined in claim 3 including means interconnecting the strip-feeding means, the punching means and the cap-presenting means for actuating them all in timed relation to each other.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising means for propelling in determinately spaced relation a succession of ventcaps, means timed with the propelling means for drilling vent-apertures in the successive caps and means timed with the propelling means and the drilling means for forming baiile members and mounting them in the successive caps.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which the means for forming and mounting the baiile members comprises means for feeding a strip of baile-forming material and punch means for punching a baille member therefrom and forcing it into the cap at the same stroke.

7. Apparatus of the character described comprisingT a turret formed with a. circumferential series of through-apertine sockets each formed to seat a. vent-cap, a presser member adapted to be brought into contact with successive caps at one side of the turret to hold the cap in the socket, and a drill so constructed and arranged as to operate upon the cap from the other side ot the plate while the cap is held in the socket by the said presser member.

8. Apparatus of the character described comprising a turret formed with a circumferential series ot sockets each formed to seat a vent-cap, means for indexingr the turret and means timed with the indexing means for forming1r baiile members and mounting them in the successive caps, the baille-forming and mounting means Comprising a punch mechanism positioned in the orbit of the turret and means for feeding a strip of battle-forming material to the punch mechanism.

9. Apparatus of the character described comprising a female. through-aperture die member formed with notch-forming clements and a punch complementally formed for coaction therewith and formed with a rounded end face adapted to deform a blank in forcing it through the female die member.

l0. Apparatus of the character described comprising a member formed with throughaperture sockets for propelling in determinately spaced relation a succession of articles mounted in thc sockets, means for operating upon the articles in succession while they are mounted in the sockets. and means for forcing the articles in succession from their sockets and disposing of them, the

last said means comprising a plunger for pushing the articles upward out of their sockets. and means for pushing the articles laterally off of the plunger.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 30th day of June, 1927.

BENJAMIN A. EVANS. WILLIAM H. SLABAUGH. 

